Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Rain and Wind Thru the Trees, 1935; watercolor on paper, 20 1/2 x 29 3/4 inches; Burchfield Penney Art Center, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Armand J. Castellani, 1976
Dark & raining—but what a glorious thing a spring rain is. It is easy to imagine that the sounds of growing things can be heard—the air full of the songs of birds (song sparrows, robins, mourning-doves, flitches, and the independent whistling of starlings) meadowlarks from some misty field)—One feels surrounded by a nimbus of spring.
P.M. Sketch of view toward Hess’—the budding wild cherry of Albarella’s being the feature, with a song sparrow in its uppermost branch, head to sky, singing. A glorious afternoon, with pale misty sunlight & grey wisps of cloud and occasional rain. The song sparrow sang almost incessantly. Finish a little after six.
After supper—picking up my paraphernalia etc.—a fine evening—almost too poignant to either endure or write about—my mind on fire, I picked out six or more possible ideas for sketches. A pale misty moon high in the east…
Charles E. Burchfield, May 2, 1947